Always prominent, tracked leader in 2nd, disputed halfway and led before 11th, strongly pressed entering straight, headed under pressure before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace opened 11/4 touched 11/4

Betting breakdown

Verdict

A surprise result which does little for the reputation of last season's novice chasers or, indeed, Ireland's staying chasers and the incumbents of the yards at Ditcheat and Seven Barrows will not be quaking in their boots. SYNCHRONISED was a late defection from the Welsh National and was having his first run in graded company but proved far too sprightly for the opposition and won going away. He is unexposed as a chaser and had caught the eye over hurdles on his return but he had done all his winning on ground that was either soft or heavy and had given little indication that he was capable of a performance of this magnitude. He has earned the opportunity to prove himself capable of operating against the best at this level but the quotes of 12-1 for the Gold Cup says more about the depth of the challenge for that race than his actual chances. He did, however, beat a young and exciting chaser in Rubi Light who was positively ridden on this first attempt at three miles on ground that he still has to prove suits ideally. The John Durkan winner again impressed with his fencing but didn't see out this trip as well as the dual National winner. Another crack at the Ryanair Chase would appear to be the obvious race if he's to return to Cheltenham although, immediately after the race, connections were talking about keeping him at three miles with the Red Mills and Hennessy under consideration. He is still a young horse and is worth another chance to definitively prove himself over this distance. Quito De La Roque may have been a shade fortunate to win on his reappearance when the two leaders failed to get home but he was one of last season's top novices and a warm favourite with neither the trip nor the ground an issue. He got in too close to the second last and lost valuable momentum but didn't look to have any real excuses on the day. He does retain the scope for further improvement and may get the chance to redeem his reputation over this course and distance in the Hennessy. Roberto Goldback has now been beaten in all eight attempts in Grade One chases but was given a good ride to achieve his best possible placing; this was much more like it after a below par display in a Cheltenham handicap where he appeared to get taken off his feet. Noland ran well on his first start in 10 months and did enough to suggest the ability remains intact; a shorter trip may suit ideally. Paul Nolan was concerned that this race might come too soon for Joncol after the John Durkan and it's possible that that was the reason for this below par display although the drying conditions were also against him. Connections will presumably freshen him up in an attempt to improve on last year's Hennessy third. Magnanimity, not seen since finishing fourth in the RSA, briefly threatened to get involved and may have needed this first run of the season; he shaped a little better than the result suggests. A change of tactics failed to bring about a change in Cooldine's fortunes and he's completely lost his way.